Ensnaring webs and nets: Ethical issues in internet-based research
Antoinette H Cotton
School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, University of Western Sydney, NSW
PP: 114 - 123
Abstract
The Internet is a relatively new medium for research that few nurse researchers have embraced. While it offers countless opportunities for nursing research, it also is prey to many perils. In the crucible of cyberspace, the very nature of not only the research process, but also that of the participant-researcher relationship is transmuted.
This paper critically examines the major and often unique ethical issues of online research, and argues these must be adequately addressed if online nursing research is to effectively protect participants and researchers from harm, and optimally meet the profession's and society's best interests.
Keywords
ethics; nursing; internet-based research
References
Adler CL & Zarchin YR (2002): The 'virtual focus group': using the Internet to reach pregnant women on home bed rest. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing 31(4): 418-427.
Alpert SA (1998): Health care information: access, confidentiality, and good practice. In: Goodman KW (ed.) Ethics, computing, and medicine: Informatics and the transformation of health care, pp. 75-101. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Australian Nursing Council, Royal College of Nursing Australia & Australian Nursing Federation (2002). Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia [Online].Available at: http://www.anci.org.au/pdf/Nurse_CoE_NL.pdf. Accessed 25 April, 2003.
Binik YM, Mah K & Kiesler S (1999): Ethical issues in conducting sex research on the Internet. The Journal of Sex Research 36: 82-90.
Bloustein E (1984): Privacy as an aspect of human dignity: an answer to Dean Prosser. In: Schoeman FD (ed.) Philosophical Dimensions of Privacy: An Anthology, pp. 156-202. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Brooks BA (2001): Using the Internet for patient education. Orthopaedic Nursing 20 (5): 69-77.
Caudill EM & Murphy PE (2000): Consumer online privacy: Legal and ethical issues. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing 19 (1): 7-19.
Culnan MJ & Bies RJ (2003): Consumer privacy: Balancing economic and justice considerations. Journal of Social Issues, 59 (2): 323-342.
Cybercrime Act 2001 (Cth): Available from: http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/3/3486/rtf/161of2001.rtf. Accessed 21 July 2001.
Data Protection Act 1998 (UK) c. 29: Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm. Accessed 21 July, 2003.
DeLorme DE, Zinkhan GM & French W (2001): Ethics and the Internet: Issues associated with qualitative research. Journal of Business Ethics 33: 271-286.
Duffy ME (2002): Methodological issues in Web-based research. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 34 (1): 83-88.
Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. (2002): Online surveillance. Available at: http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Privacy/surveillance.html. Accessed 29 April, 2003.
Electronic Privacy Information Center & Privacy International (2002): Privacy and Human Rights 2002: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and Developments [Online]. Available at: http://www.privacyinternational.org/. Accessed 29 April, 2003.
Fawcett JF & Buhle EL (1995): Using the Internet for data collection: an innovative electronic strategy. Computers in Nursing 13 (6): 273-279.
Fyfe S, Leonard H, Gelmi R, Tassell A & Strack R (2001): Using the Internet to pilot a questionnaire on childhood disability in Rett Syndrome. Child Care, Health and Development 27 (6): 535-543.
Graphic Visualization and Usability Center (1998). GVU's 10th WWW User Survey. Atlanta,
Georgia: Georgia Technology Research Corporation. Available at: http://www.gvu.gatech.edu/user/surveys/survey-1998-10/ [Online]. Accessed 8 November 2002.
Hamilton JC (1999): The ethics of conducting social-science research on the Internet. The Chronicle of Higher Education, December: B6-B7.
Im E-O & Chee W (2001): A feminist critique on the use of the Internet in nursing research. Advances in Nursing Science 23: 67-82.
International Council of Nurses (2000): Code of Ethics for Nurses. International Council of Nurses, Geneva.
Kaye BK & Johnson TJ (1999): Research methodology: Taming the cyber frontier. Techniques for improving online surveys. Social Science Computer Review 17 (3): 323-337.
Klemm P, Reppert K & Visich, L (1998):A non-traditional cancer support group. Computers in Nursing 16 (1): 31-36.
Klemm P, Hurst M, Dearholt SL & Trone SR (1999): Gender differences on Internet cancer support groups. Computers in Nursing, 17 (2): 65-72.
Lakeman R (1997): Using the Internet for data collection in nursing research. Computers in Nursing 15 (5): 269-275.
Lester T (2001): The reinvention of privacy. The Atlantic Monthly, March: 27-39.
Lindstrom M & Andersen TF (1999): Brand Building on the Internet. Hardie Grant Books, South Yarra, Victoria.
Lubka W & Holden N (2001): K.I.S.S Guide to the Internet. Dorling Kindersley, St Leonards.
Marshall W & Haley RW (2000): Use of a secure Internet Web site for collaborative medical research. JAMA 284 (14): 1843-1849.
Munhall PL (1994): Revisioning Phenomenology: Nursing and Health Science Research. National League for Nursing Press (Pub. No. 41- 2545), New York.
National Health & Medical Research Council [NHMRC] (1999): National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
National Health & Medical Research Council [NHMRC] (2002): Human Research Ethics Handbook: Commentary on the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
Naughton J (2000): A Brief History of the Future: The origins of the internet. Phoenix, London.
Nicholson T, White J, Duncan D (1998): Drugnet: a pilot study of adult recreational drug use via the WWW. Substance Abuse. 19: 109-121.
Olsen D P (Chair), Working Group for the Study of Ethical Issues in International Nursing Research (2003): Ethical considerations in international nursing research: A report from the International Centre for Nursing Ethics. Nursing Ethics 10 (2): 122-136.
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth): Available from: http://www/privacy.gov.au/act/index.html. Accessed 18 July 2003.
Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (Cth): Available from: http://www/privacy.gov.au/act/index.html. Accessed 3 March 2003.
Sandelowski M (2002): Virtual humans, vanishing bodies, and virtual nursing: Complications of life, presence, place, and identity. Advances in Nursing Science 24 (3): 58-70.
Schneier B (2000): Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York.
Schopp A, Leino-Kilpi H, Valimaki M, Dassen, T, Gasull M, Lemonidou C, Scott PA, Arndt M & Kaljonen A. (2003). Perceptions of privacy in the care of elderly people in five European countries. Nursing Ethics 10 (1): 39-47.
Sharf B (1997): Communicating breast cancer on-line: Support and empowerment on the Internet. Women and Health 26: 65-84.
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (1995): Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. Official Journal of the European Union L 281: 31-50.
Thomas B, Stamler LL, Lafreniere K. & Dumala R. (2000): The Internet: An effective tool for nursing research with women. Computers in Nursing 18(1): 13-18.
Tschudin V (1994): Preface. In: Tschudin V (ed.) Nursing people with special needs. Part I, pp. ix-x. Scutari Press, London.
Warren SD & Brandeis LD (1890): The Right to Privacy. Harvard Law Review 4 (5): 193-220.
Zakon RH (2003): Hobbes' Internet Timeline v6.0. Available from: http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/. Accessed 21 July 2003.
eContent Home
